Balvenie Classic, OB, 43%, B:1980. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Rich, intense, smooth, juicy, sweet, on humus, some mushrooms, tangerine, honey, some peat smoke and a hint of parsley. A version close to the founder’s reserve from the same period, with some extra intensity and complexity. With time, the notes of eucalyptus are stronger.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, spicy, slightly salty, on eucalyptus, wood extracts, tangerine, old peat smoke, heather and some humus. The finish is medium, spicy, floral, mineral, on heather, some old wood smoke, tangerine, slightly bitter, on some light notes of apples and humus.
Impression: A rather robust and a stronger sherry influence than the Founder’s reserve from the 1980s.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C3

Balvenie Doublewood, 17 YO, OB, 43%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Clean, oaky, floral, slightly fragrant, rather sweet, nutty, with some toffee, leather, vanilla, heather and tangerine.
Taste: Smooth, juicy, sweet, floral, with lots of heather, honey, some leather, light notes of fudge, spices, raisins and some chocolate. The finish is medium, rather thick and on the same flavours as on the palate.
Impression: A rather sweet and round notes of Balvenie with milk chocolate. The influence of the sherry is rather well integrated.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E2

Balvenie Single Barrel, 12 YO, OB, 47.8%, B: 2013, cask 12758. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Clean to very clean, slightly floral and dusty, oaky, on vanilla and some heather. With time, it becomes rounder and more on honey (flower).
Taste: Clean, oaky to very oaky, on heather, honey, vanilla and some lemon. The finish is medium, clean, oaky, fragrant, slightly floral, on heather, vanilla and some ginger.
Impression: A modern whisky, with a rather strong oaky-vanilla influence and mild heathery notes. A younger and more modern version of the previous 15 YO Single Cask
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Springbank 12 YO bottled for Auxil, OB, 46%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Smoky, mineral, slightly maritime and peaty, with some soot, smoke and austere flavours. A very nice and old fashioned Springbank.
Taste: Salty, mineral to very mineral, smoky, peaty, tarry, with some soot, ashes, pepper and nice complex austere peaty notes, as well as some sea spray, diesel smoke and light citric notes. Diluted, the finish becomes slightly more citric, salty and with liquorice.
Impression: A very good mineral, austere and peated old Fashioned Springank. A style that I enjoy very much
Rating: 16/20 FP:A4

25 Dec

Springbank 35 YO Millenium, OB, 46%, B: 2000. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Thick, complex, fruity, smoky, on mirabelle jam mixed with tangerine and papaya, as well as some eucalyptus.
Taste: Salty, smoky, peaty, slightly mineral, with some strawberries, tangerine, melon, papaya, eucalyptus, all flavours perfectly blended and keeps changing and evolving over time. The finish is long, with the same aromas as described above. Nicely mellow.
Impression: A superb expression of Springbank, from a flawless sherry cask, with the sherry influence in harmony with the peaty smoky notes of Springbank.
Rating: 19/20 FP: F5

Old Pulteney 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, maritime, on sea breeze, seaweeds, some chocolate and light floral notes. Rather different from the 17YO.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, salty, maritime, slightly citric, with some tangerine, orange and a hint of smoke. A version with apparently more sherry influence than the 17 YO. The finish is medium to long, slightly smoky, salty and citric, with some leather, chocolate and seaweeds.
Impression: A version with a stronger sherry influence than the 17 YO, more on chocolate and tangerine. Two different products but of the same high quality. Good and enjoyable stuff.
Rating: 15/20 FP: E2

Old Pulteney 17 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Maritime, slightly smoky, on sea breeze, ginger and some humus. Nice.
Taste: Salty, slightly waxy, lemony and mineral, oaky, with a hint of toffee and on maritime notes. The harbour of wick is not far away. The finish is medium to long, complex, slightly mineral, briny, waxy and citric, with a hint of smoke, some seaweeds and a hint of toffee.
Impression: A very nice slightly austere and maritime whisky, with a good depth and strong personality. Smells and taste good the sea in Northern Scotland.
Rating: 15/20 FP: C2

Old Pulteney Navigator, OB, 46%, B: 2013 ref 18/910. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Young, malty, simple, slightly maritime and on vanilla.
Taste: Very young, sweet, sugary, slightly salty, on vanilla and some fudge. The finish is short, sweet, very young, sugary and on vanilla.
Impression: A whisky that taste rather, more like a new make than a mature single malt and without the salty coastal notes that I enjoy in the Old Pulteney. It is not unpleasant, but not my style. Sorry. One of the first if not the first without any age statement. Released to commemorate the sponsoring of a yacht in the Clipper Round the World Race
Rating: 08/20 FP: A1

Octomore 2004 The Beast II 167 ppm Futures, OB, 60.5%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very peaty, slightly dry, farmy, tarry, on cow and horse stable, ashes and soots. Simpler and not much peatier than the Port Charlotte.
Taste: Dry to very dry, young, rather immature, with strong oaky notes, sawdust, peat, manure, seaweeds, wet socks and tarry notes. Diluted, it falls apart and taste like peated water. The finish is rather short, young, sweet, peaty, slightly farmy and maritime.
Impression: As a young whisky made with heavily peated barley, I was expecting a peat blast, but got rather disappointed. It was sweeter than expected, clean simple and unidimensional. I enjoyed the first official releases from Octomore better and in terms of peat intensity, the Port Charlotte Port Matured was delivering more. This is probably due to the fact that this Octomore was bottled too young (to my opinion). At 400 euros the bottles, my choice is quickly made between this Octomore and the Port Charlotte Port Matured.
Rating: 07/20 FP: A8

Bruichalddich X4 Futures 2006, OB, 64.6%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Very light, immature (new-make), young, farmy, dirty, floral and on cheap perfume. Not so much to my taste.
Taste: Light, sweet, sugary, hot and spirit, immature, on freshly crushed barley and some bitter floral notes. Let’s add quickly some water. Diluted, it becomes cleaner, less spirity but remains young and immature, with not much flavours excepted some vanilla and freshly crushed barley.The finish is short, dry, spirity, with some apple and pear drops, some manure and light fragrant notes.
Impression: An immature, young and spirit whisky, that would require at least a couple of years to gain in complexity. Tastes almost like high ABV white rums or vodka.
Rating: 05/20 FP: A1

Dailuaine 29 YO, The Whisky Exchange, 53.2%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fruity, mineral, aromatic, smooth, spicy, slightly peaty, on vanilla, melon and smoke.
Taste: Spicy, mineral, fruity, juicy, slightly peaty, on melon, mango, papaya, some tangerine, soft spices and quince. The finish is long, mineral, smoky, slightly peaty, slightly austere, fruity and juicy.
Impression: Woaww, this Dailuaine was a very good surprise. I like the style of the Dailuaine Fauna & Flora very much, but this version is without heavy sherry notes, rather austere and mineral, with some slightly waxy and peaty notes, reminding me somewhat of the old Clynelish distilled at the Brora distillery. Something unexpected in a Dailuaine. I love this one. One of the best whiskies I have tasted this year.
Rating: 18/20 FP: C2

Littlemill 1988, 24 YO, The First Editions, 55.8%, B:2013, 330 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Grassy to very grassy, round, slightly oaky and with some vanilla.
Taste: Intense, spicy, grassy, with some notes of white wine and some vanilla. The finish is medium, grassy, oaky, with some hay, on vanilla and white pepper. Diluted, it becomes grassier and slightly bitter.
Impression: A slightly rougher version than the 1990 BBR cask 16, rather light and on vanilla.
Rating: 14/20 FP: A1

Littlemill 1990, 21 YO, Berry Bros & Rudd, 46%, B: 2012, cask 18. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very grassy, intense, round and with some honey. Delicious.
Taste: Extremely grassy, on starch, some honey, fresh pastries and light notes of cooked fruits from the orchards. The finish is medium to long, smooth, round, very grassy, on honey, some pears and a light bitterness.
Impression: One of the very best Littlemills that I have tasted, with delicious smooth grassy notes. A real treat.
Rating: 16/20 FP: A1

Armorik 2002 single cask, 10 YO, OB, 56.1%, B: 2012, cask 3261, 748 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Very meaty, on game, peat smoke, strong spices, tangerine, orange and some freshly tanned leather. Given time, the notes of game and smoked meat soften and some notes of milk chocolate appear.
Taste: Spicy, peppery, smoky, meaty, on game, leather and oranges. Diluted, it becomes very smooth, on shortbreads, some honey, cooked apples, orange and with some peat smoke. The finish is medium, meaty, peaty, on game, slightly floral, with some orange and spices.
Impression: This is one of my first Armorik and this cask has a strong personality, with strong notes of meat and game, a slight peatiness and some fruity notes. Diluted, it becomes very smooth, on shortbreads. A whisky rather difficult to rate, so try it to make your own opinion.
Rating: 13/20FP: D3

Armorik Double Maturation, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Floral, smooth, juicy, slightly peaty, on fresh oak, spices, some fudge and vegetal extracts.
Taste: Very smooth, on fresh oaky notes, spices, some leather and orange. The finish is medium, fresh, oaky, slightly buttery, winey and creamy, very smooth, with some spices and a touch of orange.
Impression: Matured in oak from Brittany and finished in sherry casks, notes of fresh/virgin oak are very noticeable and gives a nice freshness and smoothness to the whisky, while the sherry seems to give some additional spiciness and notes of orange. A well-made whisky, easy and enjoyable to drink.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D2

Tullibardine 25 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth, mellow, floral, with some honey, leather, vanilla, some treacle, figs and dried apricots.
Taste: Rich, intense, slightly floral and fragrant, on dark chocolate, some menthol, honey, violet, vanilla and some toffee. The finish is medium, peppery, floral, slightly bitter and grassy, on tobacco leaves, some honey, polish, bitter orange, wet wood and tannins.
Impression: A very intense, rich and oaky Tullibardine, with smooth grassy and honey notes. The new range of Tullibardine shows a nice consistency in the style and high quality product. Not only the packaging better, but it seems like the cask selection has improved.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D1

Clynelish 1996 Masterpieces, Speciality Drinks, 56.1%; B: 2013, 351 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, round, waxy, slightly mustardy and mineral, with some tangerine and austere smoke. Very nice.
Taste: Peppery to very peppery, intense, smooth, waxy, slightly mineral and citric, with some melon, pineapples, mango and vanilla. The finish is long, waxy to very waxy, on white pepper, a hint of smoke, some flintstone and mustard seeds, as well as some tangerine and light notes of grapefruits.
Impression: A nice waxy, citric and slightly mineral Clynelish, smooth and well balanced from a refill sherry cask
Rating: 16/20 FP:C1

Clynelish 1996 Special Whisky Schiff, 17 YO, Acla Selection, 49.7%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Oaky, clean, waxy, on vanilla, mild mustard, some light fruity nice and some pleasant smoothness.
Taste: Clean, oaky to very oaky, waxy, slightly citric and peppery, with some mustard and some sweet fruity notes of melon and guava are progressively appearing, as well as some mineral notes. The finish is medium to long, waxy, slightly oaky, clean, with some white pepper, lemon and other citric flavours.
Impression: The nose is more marked by the wood than the Masterpiece, but cleaner and maybe fresher. In any case, a very good whisky. Suprisingly, the 17 YO version is priced at the same level as the 14 YO (illustrated on the photo).
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

Ardbeg 1976, 25 YO, Silver Seal, 50%, B: 2002, 146 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Farmy, fishy to very fishy, on seawater, parsley, peat smoke, orange juice and some menthol. A rather unusual nose. With time, it becomes more on disinfectant and phenols.
Taste: Sweet, salty to very salty, on tangerine, peach, smoke, tar, seaweeds, phenols, some eucalyptus and pine wax. With some cardboards and chestnuts. The finish is long, fishy, and maritime, on sea spray, tangerine, smoke, disinfectant, seaweeds, almonds, chestnuts and wallnuts.
Impression: A rather special Ardbeg, with a flavour profile rather destabilising (bottle opened for too long?), that I have difficulties to judge.
Rating: 15/20 FP:F5

Ardbeg 1992 Old Particular, 21 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.6%, B: 2013, DL10065, 232 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, smoky, complex, maritime, with strong notes of disinfectant, subtle rather old-fashioned smoke, some vanilla, light citric notes and a touch of peach.
Taste: Light, dry, peaty, with some bandage, tar, some citric notes, a few drops of peach, on liquorice roots and disinfectant. There are also some menthol and eucalyptus. The finish is long, dry, rooty, oaky, with some old wood, disinfectant, some bandages, eucalyptus, seaweeds, peat, tar and cough syrup. The notes of disinfectant are persistent.
Impression: A good Ardbeg, rather oaky and with pronounced notes of disinfectant close to the ones you could find in Ardbeg from the early 1970s. A good whisky with a rather hefty price tag (750 CHF).
Rating: 16/20 FP:A6

Macallan Amber, OB, 40%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Round, slightly floral, with strong notes of hazelnuts, some yeast extract, nutmeg and some leather. With time, it becomes smoother and more floral. Rather different from the other products from 1824 series.
Taste: Very grassy, sweet, oaky, slightly floral, on vanilla, ginger and starch. It tastes rather young, The finish is short to medium, sweet, grassy, rather young, with some parsley, a hint of ginger and white pepper and a touch of smoke and slightly sour berries.
Impression: A rather young, soft, grassy and slightly thin Macallan. Simple and easy drinking. I enjoyed better its older siblings.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B1

Macallan Sienna, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Smooth, round, slightly floral, with some leather, tannins and on light sweet sherry notes
Taste: Very smooth, soft, slightly light and grassy, with nice spicy notes, on cinnamon, leather, some tangerine, raisins, chocolate and smoke. The finish is medium, smooth, with some bitter chocolate, leather, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Impression: A smooth, slightly creamy and easy drinking. At this strength, the whisky is easy drinking and should appeal to a large public, but some extra depth might have been welcomed.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D2

Royal Lochnagar 2002, 10 YO, Cooper’s choice, 46%, cask 642. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Clean, floral, oaky and on vanilla.
Taste: Juicy, oaky, spicy to very spicy, floral, on vanilla and some pollen, with light grassy and fruity notes of melon. Diluted, it becomes slightly waxy, sweeter and grassier. The finish is medium, floral, slightly sweet and grassy and on vanilla, with a hint of smoke.
Impression: A nice clean and well-made Royal Lochnagar, rather fresh and grassy. It is always to try some Royal Lochnagar, seldom bottled by independent bottlers.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Speyburn 25 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, round, rather mellow and floral, with some orange and tangerine
Taste: Smooth to very smooth, with delicate and subtle notes of tangerine, honey and leather, with light spicy notes and some chocolate. The finish is medium to long, subtle, smooth, rather spicy, slightly bitter, floral, on fudge, chocolate, some high grade leather and plenty of fresh and light floral notes.
Impression: A richer, more intense and complex version of Speyburn than the 10 YO.
Rating: 14/20 FP:F1

Speyburn 10 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, on freshly baked pastries, freshly crushed barley, almond and a touch of heather.
Taste: Very smooth and light, fresh, slightly floral and with some nice malty notes. The finish is short to medium, very smooth, light and slightly floral.
Impression: This is my first Speyburn. This whisky is surprising, with an extreme smoothness, subtle and delicate slightly floral notes. A rather unique whisky, easy to drink and well made.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A1

Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 Bourbon, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Oaky, smoky, on sea breeze, humus, old wood and some flavours from the Campbletown harbour.
Taste: Intense, salty, maritime, on old wood smoke, spices and some eucalyptus. The finish is medium, slightly bitter, oaky, on tobacco leaves, some old diesel smoke, humus, mushrooms and light mineral notes.
Impression: A good Kilkerran, but I found the sherry version slightly more intense and complex. It is nice to see the maturity improving on a yearly basis.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A2

Balblair 1969, 43 YO, OB, 41.4%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, mellow, with sweet fruity notes of quince, melon, on honey, some apples and grassy notes. Very elegant and rather fresh for its age. Diluted, it becomes slightly mineral and coastal, on banana and some pineapples.
Taste: Fresh, grassy to very grassy, with some humus, eucalyptus, honey, melon, leather and a few notes of guava. The whisky is also rather smoky, smooth and mellow. With a few drops of water, some notes of tobacco leaves are released. The finish is medium, slightly citric, grassy and smoky, with some humus, some green apples, melon and pineapples, with a touch of vanilla. On the retro-olfaction, some light coastal flavours can be perceived.
Impression: A very old Balblair, the oldest I have tried so far, smooth and mellow that becomes rather lively with a few drops of water. A very good whisky to enjoy and to savour in the evening with your best friends. Even after 43 years spent in the cask, I haven’t really noticed any woody notes. Well done.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B2

Balblair 2003, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Fresh, with lots of fresh and green apples, juicy malty notes, some heather honey, vanilla and a twist of lemon.
Taste: Very fresh and juicy, on fruits from the orchards, liquid honey, freshly crushed malt and some green and grassy notes. The finish is medium, starting on slightly green, smoky and bitter (few drops of gentian) notes, before becoming slightly spicy (ginger and vanilla), on green apples and bananas.
Impression: A very different style compared to the 1983, very refreshing and light. Very good.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

Balbair 1983 3rd Edition, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, slightly malty, on liquid honey, apples and some lemon pie. Elegant.
Taste: Fresh, intense, floral, complex, slightly grassy, on menthol, banana, liquid honey, some light spices, green apples and some tropical fruits. The finish is medium to long, slightly grassy, with some tobacco leaves, humus, on honey, lemon grass, green apples and green bananas, a few bits of pineapples and a touch of coffee.
Impression: A very intense and lively whisky. I do not know if this is the effect of the increase abv, but I cannot recall of having tasting such an intense Balblair for a long time. I really enjoyed this one!
Rating: 17/20 FP:C2

Langatun Old Deer 2008, OB, 61.6%, B: 2013, ref L 0713. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, winey, spicy, slightly smoky and on raisins.
Taste: Very smooth, winey, malty, and rather young, on tannins and rather strong red wine flavours. The finish is medium, very winey and smooth, slightly soapy, on grapes and a light smokiness.
Impression: A very smooth whisky with very strong notes of wine taking over the character of the distillery. Too winey to my liking. From ex-sherry and Chardonnay wine casks.
Rating: 09/20 FP:F1

Whisky Castle Terroir, OB, 43%, B: 2011, Price: (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very malty, rich, intense, spicy, on grist and some light nutty notes.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, young to very young, very malty on rather strong notes of wood fire (burnt beech). The finish is medium, malty to very malty, on chocolate, wood smoke and nuts.
Impression: Produced by the small Swiss distillery of Käsers Schloss, with some chocolate malt (as for the Glenmorangie Signet) dried with some beech wood and using ingredients locally source (including Swiss oak), this whisky delivers a nice complexity, with a nice spiciness, some smoke and light nutty notes. A rather peculiar but good whisky.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A3

18 Nov

Käsers Castle One Edition, OB, 68%, B: 2011, Price: (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Malty to very malty, extremely smooth, with some wood smoke (beech) and chocolate. Young.
Taste: Young, very malty, clean, fresh, on pear drops, some nuts and some wood smoke. The finish is short to medium, very malty, with some notes of schnapps, wood smoke and fresh green fruity notes.
Impression: A young whisky with strong green fruity notes complemented by some wood smoke. A rather special whisky.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A2

Käsers Castle One Bordeaux Matured, 3 YO, OB, 71.6%, B: 2008, cask 406. Price (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Old gold.
Noses: Strongly malty, on cereal mash, porridge, flour husk dust, roasted nuts, with some winey flavours. Quite unusual.
Taste: Very malty, hot, winey, farmy, on porridge and strawberries. The finish is short to very short, winey, ultra clean, on barley husk flavours and strawberries.
General Impression: This very to ultra clean Swiss whisky is quite different from most Scotch single malts, mainly due to its very strong cereal/husks flavours, reminding of some grain whiskies. Otherwise, it is rather flawless and shows a surprisingly maturity for a 3 yo whisky.
Rating: 10/20 FP:D1

New Zealand 15 YO Double Wood, OB, 40%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Red-amber.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, round, oaky, slightly winey, grainy and spicy, with some toffee and raisins.
Taste: Very smooth, grainy, winey, on red wine, tannins, freshly pressed raisins, apricots, peach, some mango, dried fruits and light spices. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly grainy, almost velvety, on red wine, grapes, redcurrant and some leather. Diluted, it becomes even smoother, more on red berries and grapes.
Impression: A rather surprising blended whisky (70% single malt and 30% grain whisky) matured for 6 years in ex-bourbon casks and 10 years in ex-wine barrels. An extremely smooth whisky, with the winey notes contributing to smooth-sweet notes or raisins. An easy drinking and pleasant well-made whisky.
Rating: 12/20 FP:F1

New Zealand 1990, OB, 61.7%, B: 2012, cask 90
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Smooth, floral, with lots of fresh leather and game.
Taste: Intense, oaky, slightly juicy, spicy, rather young and light, on vanilla and pears. The finish is medium, slightly bitter, on tobacco leaves, wood spices, vanilla and pears. Diluted, it becomes smoother and less rough, but lighter as well.
Impression: Although it is over 20 years old, this whisky is suprisingly light, with some bitter notes, closer to a 6-7 years old single malt. Interestingly, the 15 Doublewood seems more mature and with more depth than this one. I would need to taste in the future more of The NZ whisky products to get a better impression of this distillery.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1

Remark: During the show, I tastedat least 5 whiskies from the New Zealand company. In general, these whiskies were extremely smooth, smoother than Scotch single malt, with a silky and creamy-like texture that I have only tasted in some Japanese whiskies or in young Scotch whiskies. These whiskies are well-made and different from most Scotch single malts, making the scoring rather difficult. If you like smooth whiskies, you should not disappointed by the products of this distillery.

Amrut Peated, Blackadder, 63%, B: 2013. Ref: BA18/2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Dry, peaty to very peaty, tarry and with some maritime notes. A nose rather similar to some Islay malts. Very good.
Taste: Very peaty, intense, farmy, slightly meaty and maritime. Rather spirity. Let’s quickly add some water to this one as well. Diluted, the finish seems rather thin at the start, before the nice subtle and complex peaty, farmy and slightly maritime notes develop, with some vanilla and light floral and aromatic notes.
Impression: A very nice peaty and well-made Amrut. If you like the peated Amrut (or peated whiskies), you should not be disappointed by this one.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A7

Amrut Sherry Cask, Blackadder, 62.3%, B: 2013, ref BA17/2013, 236 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Slightly floral with very strong notes of toffee and fudge. Diluted, it becomes rather sharp, more floral and with some fruity notes
Taste: Very strong and spirity. Let’s quickly add some water. Diluted, it become rather grassy, fresh, clean, with nice smooth floral notes, some starch and light notes of pear. Very smooth. The finish is medium, clean, smooth to very smooth, floral, malty, with some toffee and fudge, as well as some light grassy and honey notes.
Impression: A whisky that must be taken with water, unless you want to burn to taste bud. Nosed straight, it is like smelling a bag of toffee and fudge. With water, it opens up and delivers more satisfying flavours.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Paul John Brilliance, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Malty, slightly grassy, oaky and on vanilla. Well rounded.
Taste: Very smooth, rather spicy (ginger and white pepper), slightly smoky and floral and with some apples. The finish is rather short and floral, malty, round, on vanilla and some apples.
Impression: Maybe slightly young, but the whisky is rather good, well rounded and with a pleasant flavour profile.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Paul John Edited, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, round, oaky, with some caramel (carambar), vanilla, tar and smoke.
Taste: Peaty, floral, slightly spirity, fragrant and immature, on apple and pear drops, with faint tarry notes. Diluted, it becomes younger and rather harsh and oaky. The finish is short to medium, tarry, peaty, oaky, on fresh apples and some vanilla.
Impression: The peaty notes on the nose were lovely, but it taste rather young on the palate. The Brilliance is more balanced.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A5

Karuizawa for The Whisky Exchange, 30 YO, OB, 55.8%, B:2013, cask 8606. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Very smooth, fruity, on exotic wood, beeswax, old furniture, plums and delicate floral notes.
Taste: Rich, oaky, smooth, mellow,spicy, floral, slightly fragrant, with some ginger, vanilla, soja sauce, plums and wood polish. The finish is medium, oaky, zesty, spicy, on ginger, vanilla, some exotic spices and floral notes.
Impression: A nicely spicy and rather mellow Karuizawa, with a pleasant roundness. Not as fresh and intense as the Karuizawa bourbon cask from last year. A very good whisky, sold out within hours of its release.
Rating: 16/20FP:A2

Girvan 1964 joint bottling with The Whisky Exchange, 48 YO, The Whisky Agency, 49.5%, B: 2012, 487 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very smooth, silky, with lots of apricots, on peach, some papaya and other exotic fruits
Taste: Very smooth and silky, grainy, velvety, on peach, apricots, papaya, banana and other exotic fruits, with light wood spices and tangerine. The finish is short to medium, slightly oaky and woody, on liquorice roots, grains, peach, apricots and some walnuts.
Impression: An extremely smooth and pleasant very old grain whisky easy to drink. Some light woody notes can be perceived in the finish, but well contained and not unpleasant. Considering that the official Girvran 30 YO will be priced at £375, this is a good value aged single grain whisky.
Rating: 14/20 FP:G1

Girvan 1989, 18 YO, Blackadder, 56.7%. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, on cooked cereals and a hint of varnish and polish. Very clean.
Taste: Clean, on cooked cereals, some apricots and varnish. Spirity when tasted straight. The finish is medium, smooth, very round, on peach, cooked cereals, vanilla and toffee.
Impression: A good, clean, round and smooth whisky. A very good introduction to grain whisky. Well appreciated.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Teeling 21 YO Vintage Reserve, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: gold
Nose: Very fresh, with lots of fruits from the orchards, elderberries and some lime tea.
Taste: Very fresh and juicy, on elderberries, a faint waxiness, fruits from the orchards, melon, light spicy notes and a hint of smoke. The finish is medium, very fresh, fruity and on elderberries.
Impression: A very fresh single malt Irish whisk(e)y from the Cooley distillery with strong and enjoyable sweet notes of elderberries. Dangerously drinkable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A1

Glencadam 1977 Platinum, 34 YO, Douglas Laing, 56.8%, B: 2012, 287 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Smooth, mellow, floral, rich, spicy, on cinnamon, on Glühwein and Christmas cake spices, with a thick sherry influence.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, floral to very floral, slightly mineral, on berries, old dry peat smoke, plums, raisins, some orange and bitter orange, tannins, leather and a touch of eucalyptus. Very complex. The finish is long, floral, and slightly woody, on tannins, leather, dry peat smoke, orange, marmalade, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Impression: The finish is slightly tannic and woody, but on the nose and on the palate, I really enjoyed the complexity of this whisky, as well as the old fashioned style of dry and slightly peat sherried whiskies. A high quality whisky from an often under-rated distillery. The Platinum Old and Rare range is now part of the Hunter Laing company.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H3

Singleton of Dufftown 18 YO, OB, 40%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Light, smooth to very smooth, very floral, round, slightly grassy and nutty, on spices, tangerines, orange and some hay.
Taste: Very juicy, fresh, floral, slightly fragrant and grassy, on fruits from the orchards, melon, tangerine, orange, some honey and oak spices, with a hint of coriander. The finish is medium to long, juicy, fruity, mellow, smooth, rather fresh, with a hint of smoke, slightly grassy, some honey, tangerine, apples, orange and spices.
Impression: A very elegant Dufftown, deliciously smooth, mellow and fruity. A very good product from this distillery. An easy and enjoyable whisky that should appeal to a large public.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E1

Ardbeg Ardbog, 10 YO, OB, 52.3%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, dry to very, peaty, smoky, tarry, some camphor, bandage and vanilla.
Taste: Very dry and smoky, maritime, with some citrus, oaky, on vanilla, some walnuts and TCP. Diluted, it becomes oakier and more on walnuts. The finish is medium, slightly dry, oaky, on vanilla, peat and walnuts.
Impression: The nose is rather dry, while strong notes of oak and walnuts are delivered on the palate. Not as peaty as the regular 10 YO, which I prefer. A version limited to approximately 100,000 bottles.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C6

Ardbeg Uigedail, OB, 54.2%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Intense, smoky, peaty, tarry, maritime, on seaweeds, some light meaty and farmy notes, a touch of leather and a light sherry influence.
Taste: Very intense, peaty, smoky, tarry to very tarry, ashy, maritime, slightly citric, on seaweeds, some leather, camphor and iodine. The finish is medium to long, very peaty and smoky, slightly salty, maritime, with some iodine, camphor, some leather and a touch of sherry notes
Impression: A very intense, peaty and rather complex whisky. The quality of the Uigedail has not decreased over time. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C7

Ar3 Elements of Islay, Speciality Drinks, 52.3%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Very vegetal, with strong toffee notes, some peat, seaweeds and disinfectants.
Taste: Peaty, salty, maritime, with strong notes of toffee, on vegetamine, some iodine and disinfectant, with slight rubbery notes. The finish is medium, peaty, salty, with lots of toffee and some vegetal notes.
Impression: A rather young and smooth whisky, with strong notes of toffee coming from the sherry finish. Good, although I am not too found of this combination of toffee and peaty/maritime flavours.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D7

Coilltean 1965, Samaroli, 45%, B: 2006, 594 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, bold, peaty, smoky, intense, on figs, sultanas, humus, high grade leather, tangerine and orange. Very well balanced and smooth.
Taste: Very fruity and round, very smooth, silky, oaky, complex, slightly peaty and smoky, juicy, on leather, tannins, orange, pears and some berries. The balance is superb. The finish is medium to long, smoky, very smooth, with light to medium peaty notes, on leather, tannins, figs, orange, tangerine, some spices and a few drops of honey.
Impression: An impressive blended (malt?) whisky from Samaroli, with all flavours well integrated and complementary, with a delicious sherry influence and aromas reminding me of old Longmorn and Macallan with a dash of more peated whisky. Excellent.
Rating: 18/20 FP: G3

Big Peat X-Mas Edition 2013, OB, 54.9%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Very peaty, light, oaky, subtle, on phenols and old diesel smoke. The nose suggests a fair proportion of old or very old Islay whiskies (Port Ellen for instance).
Nose: Clean, peaty to very peaty, fresh, with some tar, ashes, seaweeds, camphor, some diesel smoke and TCP, as well as a thin zest of lemon. The finish is long, clean, zesty, peaty, tarry, with some liquorice root and seaweeds.
Impression: A light, clean and heavily peated whisky, with a rather complex peatiness and some maritime influence. Very pleasant.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A6

28 Oct

Bruichladdich 10 YO imported by Samaroli, OB, 58%, B: 1970s. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Farmy, maritime, slightly peaty and on heavy sherry notes,
Taste: Intense, floral, slightly peaty and dry, on tangerine, cherries and leather, with some bold peaty and maritime flavours gaining in intensity over time, as well as more tropical fruity notes and Swiss milk chocolate. The finish is medium to long, rather thick and syrupy, with a strong peaty and maritime smoky influence, salt, seaweeds, leather, tannins, orange, sultanas and some spices.
Impression: A nice rich and intense Bruichladdich on thick sherry influence and a light peatiness. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:I3

Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm 2007, OB, 50%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Cheesy (Gruyère), malty, dusty, slightly farmy, oaky, slightly maritime and some woodlands.
Taste: Salty, slightly mineral, maritime, slightly aromatic, with some seaweeds and light diesel smoke flavours and some juicy oaky notes. The finish is medium, malty, fresh, slightly bitter, salty and maritime, with a whiff of smoke, some lemongrass and floral notes.
Impression: It is a pretty young Bruichladdich, but with a nice fresh flavour profile and rather complex considering its age, more satisfying than the Scottish barley and with more body. A very contrasting version to the Scottish barley.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A2

AnCnoc 35 YO, OB, 44.3% B:2012, 1495 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Floral, round, smooth, rather fresh for its age, with some spices and sweet fruity notes. Bolder than the 22 YO.
Taste: Complex, smooth, mellow, fruity, slightly floral and grassy, on melon, exotic fruits, some smoke and tangerine. The finish is medium to long, floral, slightly fragrant and bitter, spicy, fruity, slightly smoky, oaky, on melon and some exotic fruits.
Impression: The finish is slightly too fragrant to my taste, but the nose was most enjoyable and the sweet of tropical fruits on the palate most enjoyable. A well made old whisky rather affordable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E1

AnCnoc 22 YO, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Round, smooth to very smooth, complex, with some smoke, humus, some spices and light grassy notes.
Taste: Rich, spicy, complex, intense, slightly smoky, floral, with some apple and pear drops, cooked apples, melon, mild spices, some grassy notes and other fruity notes. The finish is medium to long, rich, floral, spicy, oaky, intense, slightly grassy and bold, on apples, pears, smoke, cardamom, a touch of nutmeg and some other flavours.
Impression: Compared to the 16 YO, the new 22 YO is considerably more complex, heavier and richer, with lots of depth. A very enjoyable and welcome addition to the range.
Rating: 15/20 FP:E1

AnCnoc 16 YO, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Clean, fresh, oaky, floral, slightly zesty, on vanilla and some apples.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, rich, juicy, oaky, on freshly pressed apples, a whiff of smoke, freshly crushed barley and some bitter floral notes. Diluted, it becomes rather thin. The finish is similar to the 12 YO, but with more spices.
Impression: A spicier version than the 12 YO, more mature and complex, but also slightly less fresh and fruity. Two different versions of equal quality.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

AnCnoc 12 YO, OB, 40%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Smooth, floral, malty, spicy, slightly nutty, with some tangerine and humus.
Taste: Fresh to very fresh, oaky, juicy, malty, on apple and pears juice and some spices. The finish is medium, clean, fresh, juicy, on fruits from the orchards, oaky and some bitter smoke.
Impression: A very fresh and juicy whisky, pleasant to drink, on pear and apple juice. A good refreshing dram.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C1

23 Oct

Bruichladdich The Organic, 5 YO, OB, 46%, B 2010. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Fresh, young, spirity, clean, malty, on toffee, with some oaky and smoky notes.
Taste: Smooth, young, spirity, slightly malty and hot, on vanilla and toffee. The finish is short to medium, malty, on toffee and vanilla.
Impression: For being 5 years old, the whisky has relatively well matured, with some pleasant notes. As for such young whiskies, some extra years of maturation would be needed to appreciate the qualities of the spirit.
Rating: 09/20 FP:A1

Octomore 6.1 Scottish Barley 167 ppm, 5 YO, OB, 57%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very peaty, dry, ashy, tarry, farmy and with some seaweeds. With time, it becomes drier and even more peaty.
Taste: Extremely peated, hot, immature, with strong notes of over-infused walnuts shells, tar, iodine and tarry notes. Too much peat and walnuts to distinguish anything else. Diluted, it becomes more on glue and solvents. The finish is short to medium, on solvents, some soap, tar, peat and ashes.
Impression: A very intense, rather immature Octomore with some fragrant off-notes. I enjoyed the previous versions much better. I am struggling with this one.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A9

Pl2 Elements of Islay, Speciality Drinks, 63.4%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Very intense and peaty, clean, maritime, farmy, smoky and very tarry.
Taste: Young, feisty, very peaty, clean, dry to very dry, ashy and very tarry, with some farmy notes. The finish is medium, dry to very dry, very peaty and tarry, with some farmy notes.
Impression: A very clean and rather young but extremely peaty Port Charlotte. A real peat blast! It tasted as peaty as some Octomore. A whisky for Peat freaks.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A9

Ben Nevis Traditional, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty to very peat, meaty, farmy, tarry and clean, with light floral notes.
Taste: Very peaty, aromatic, farmy to very farmy, slightly citric, tarry and ashy, with some sea brine and light floral and fragrant notes. The finish is long, dry, tarry, very peaty, slightly citric, floral and fragrant, with a light bitterness and some sea brine.
Impression: A very peaty and intense Ben Nevis, well made and with a peatiness reminding me of the South shore of Islay. If you like very peaty whiskies, then you should give a try to this one!
Rating: 15/20 FP:A7

Tamnavulin 1967, 37 YO, Duncan Taylor, 46.7%, B: 2005, Dark sherry cask 1018. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Thick, intense, heavy, on burnt sugar, treacle and yeast extract. Very heavy on the sherry.
Taste: Surprisingly sweet and light, smooth to very smooth, floral, slightly fragrant, on dark fruits, some cocoa and a light peat smoke, as well as some tannins. The finish is medium to long, rich, floral, and fragrant, on toffee, some dark fruits and berries, with some tannins and wallnuts.
Impression: A slightly more tannic version than the 1966, with a heavier sherry nose.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G2

13 Oct

Tamnavulin 1966, 35 YO, OB, 52.6%, B: 2002, Sherry butt cask 3807, 472 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Nicely floral, very smooth, elegant, with some high quality leather and Christmas spices. With time, it becomes more on fudge and toffee.
Taste: Floral, with sweet and round fragrant notes, on toffee, fudge, leather, cherries and some berries. The finish is medium to long, rich, floral, slightly spicy, with faint notes of cocoa, some fudge and berries.
Impression: A very high quality Tamnavulin, rich and complex, reminding me of the GlenDronach from the early 1970s. Excellent!
Rating: 17/20 FP:G2

Ben Nevis 10 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, malty, grassy, slightly floral and with some humus and a hint of smoke.
Taste: Grassy to very grassy, malty, bold, robust, spicy, with some humus, tangerine, old bold smoke. The finish is medium to long, grassy, bold, spicy, slightly smoky, with some humus, tangerine and floral notes.
Impression: A rather big, bold and grassy whisky, with a nice sherry influence and some humus. A very good daily dram. Of note, the 10 YO will be repackaged next year.
Rating: 14/20 FP:D2

Glenfarclas Coronation, 1953, OB, 51.5%, B: 2013, 60 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Rich, complex, smooth, floral, on dark fruits, leather, tannins, orange, some old smoke, dark chocolate, some beeswax, maybe a touch of treacle, as well as some exotic fruits. A beautiful nose.
Taste: Surprisingly light and fresh for its age, rich, intense, on tangerine, slight notes of game, with some old bold peat smoke, sultanas, dried and dark fruits, some exotic fruits and berries, with thin vegetal notes. Diluted, it becomes more resinous, slightly winey and on beeswax The finish is long, smooth to very smooth, rather fresh, elegant, rather subtle, with some fruit jam, light floral notes, tangerine, some vanilla, a few berries, some old bold peat smoke, some light vegetal notes and a touch of Swiss milk chocolate.
Impression: This is the oldest whisk I have tasted so far and positively surprised by the quality of this cask. After having spent 60 years in a cask, the whisky remained very fresh without any woodiness that you would expect from such an aged whisky. The nose is excellent, as for the mouth feel. An excellent selection from Sukinhder. The decanter and the price are massive, but the quality of the spirit is really excellent and if you can afford it, then you will not be disappointed by its content.
Rating: 19/20 FP:F2

Glenfarclas Family Cask release X 1962, OB, 40.9%, B: 2013, cask 3247, 138 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Smooth, round, very fruity, on dried fruits, sultanas, tannins, leather, some old bold smoke and some woody flavours. Slightly more meaty and heavier than the coronation cask.
Taste: Smooth, floral, woody, with lots of sour berries (cranberries juice), slightly bitter, on bitter orange, some tangerine, coffee and old smoke. The finish is medium to long, bitter, woody, astringent, floral, on berries and some burnt wood. Diluted, it becomes more on cough syrup.
Impression: A very old Glenfarclas with rather strong woody notes. Simply too much for me. If you like the old and bitter-sherried whiskies, you might enjoy it.
Rating: 13/20 FP:I2

Glenfarclas 105, 20 YO, OB, 60%. B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Floral, smooth to very smooth, on orange, tangerine, berries, a hint of smoke, some dark chocolate and slighty rubbery notes. Rather light and fresh.
Taste: Light, fresh, smooth, intense, elegant, slightly spicy and juicy, on tangerine and some other fruity notes, as well as a touch of fudge and slight floral notes. Diluted, it becomes more floral and slightly fragrant. The finish is medium to round, with some bitter caramel, tangerine, orange, coffee beans and a touch of dark chocolate.
Impression: A pleasant and round expression of Glenfarclas, rather on the light side, but with a nice freshness. Although it is bottled at 60%, it is not too hot at full strength. I enjoyed this version much better than the NAS 105.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D2

06 Oct

Mortlach 1974 Prenzlow Collection, 28 YO, JWWW, 51.1%. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Oaky, slightly tannic, slightly fruity, on tangerine, honey, with rather strong notes of eucalyptus and fur tree sap.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, floral, on eucalyptus and some spices. Elegant and subtle. The finish is medium, smooth, mellow, subtle, with some eucalyptus and delicate floral notes.
Impression: A smooth and mellow Mortlach that has lost some its spicy bite to gain in elegance and aromas of eucalyptus. A pleasant variation.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D2

Mortlach 14 YO For Sestante, Gordon & MacPhail, 57%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: On rich sweet sherry notes, without any excessive roundness, some oak spices, old dry smoke, with some peat and mineral residues.
Taste: Dryier than on the nose, with rich, intense sherry notes, rather spicy, oaky, some pepper, orange, tangerine, some mineral and peaty smoke, with an underlying juiciness. The finish is long, dry, smoky, mineral, with some flints, tar, orange, tangerine, old wood, some camphor and menthol.
Impression: A very nice dry, slightly rough, but rather mineral and smoky version of Mortlach. A very good old-fashioned whisky, without many round angles.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E3

Mortlach 1980 for Scot & Scotch, Gordon & MacPhail, 46%, B: 2001, cask 6424. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, rich, fruity, juicy, on honey, with some floral notes, tangerine and a touch of orange.
Taste: Rich, intense, very smooth, juicy, fruity, floral, on honey and some light grassy notes. Diluted, it becomes more floral. The finish is medium to long, floral to very floral, smoky, with a touch of hay, smoke and some ginger.
Impression: A very pleasant Mortlach, with a very smooth nose, becoming spicy to very spicy on the palate. Thank you Bernhard.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C2

27 Sep

Peat Bog 2008, 5 YO, The Whisky Cask, 59.5%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour : Pale gold
Nose : Very sweet (new make-like), peaty, smoky with lighty oaky and floral notes.
Taste : Very peat, intense, sweet, immature and with a fair dose of fragrant off-notes (feints?). Rather unpleasant. The finish is short to medium, sweet, fragrant, peaty and smoky.
Impression : Some whiskies (e.g., Kilchoman or Port Charlotte) can be very good at 5 years old, but this one is rather immature and with unpleasant fragrant notes. Not my style at all.
Rating : 06/20 FP:A7

26 Sep

Imperial 1970 Connoisseur choice “old brown label”, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%. Price: N/A.
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Quite smoky, grassy and earthy, slightly meaty and mineral, on old pipe tobacco and some humus.
Taste: Smooth, mineral, earthy, on pipe tobacco, peat smoke and moss, with some sweet gentian and blueberry jam. Rather unusual, but very drinkable. Concerning the finish, it disappears rather quickly, leaving a sensual feeling down your throat.
Impression: A very dram, with a rather unusual flavour profile, but far from being bad. Thank you Serge.
Rating: 16/20

25 Sep

Cutty Sark, OB, 70 Proof, B: 1970. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Very light, thin, malty and slightly smoky.
Taste: Malty, slightly soapy and bitter, on liquorice roots, old tobacco leaves of second quality, with a thin sweetness. The finish is short, slightly sweet, bitter, weak and thin.
Impression: A dull, weak and slightly bitter. Probably better to drink it heavily diluted or mixed with other liquids. Hopefully, the current production is better.
Rating: 06/20 FP:B2

24 Sep

Naked Famous Grouse, OB, 40%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Very smooth, clean, with round sherry notes of tangerine and orange, with some cinnamon and heather.
Taste: Very smooth, round, slightly grassy, mellow, with some orange, tangerine and some heather and spices (cinnamon). The finish is medium, grassy, slightly grainy, round, with some heather, honey, peach and tangerine.
Impression: The naked grouse is a premium version of the Famous Grouse, matured exclusively in ex-sherry casks. The whisky is rather simple, but extremely smooth and easy drinking and not as bland as other blended whiskies. In conclusion, a good, well made and affordable blended whisky (and the only 100% sherry matured (?) blended whisky that I tasted so far).
Rating: 12/20 FP:F1

Dewar’s Signature, OB, 40%, B:2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth, malty, with lots of honey, some nutty flavours and some orange.
Taste: Very smooth, rather fresh, sweet, grassy, malty, on honey and sweet tangerines. The finish is long, rich, very juicy, mellow, sweet, slightly grassy, with a hint of smoke, on tangerine, peach and honey.
Impression: A very nice blended whisky, with a smooth honeyed nose and a pleasant rich and sweet finish.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D4

Haig’s Gold Label Spring Cap, OB, 70 Proof, B: 1960s, Price: N.A
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very sweet and grassy, smooth, very fresh, on old dry smoke, some pear and walnut. Over time, strong honey notes are released.
Taste: Sweet to very sweet, fresh, floral, nutty, slightly grassy, on juicy oak and some dry smoke. The finish is short to medium, slightly dry and bitter, grassy, nutty, rather austere and with some lavender.
Impression: A very nice old-fashioned nose, smooth, light and grassy, become nutty on the finish. Thank you Patrick S.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B3

Chivas Royal Salute Stone of Destiny, OB, cask sample drawn on March 2011,
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Smooth, mellow, rich, intense, velvety, with some bold smoke, orange, leather, fig, dried fruits, apricots and some peach. Excellent. The nose reminds me of the old sherrried Strathisla and Longmorn from the 1960-70s.
Taste: Soft, mellow to very mellow, smooth, on dried fruits, leather, Demerara sugar, orange and tangerine, as well as some smoke. Complex, rather syrupy-chewy, with a touch of bitterness. The finish is long, slightly grainy, thick, fruity, on leather, tannins, dark fruits, dried fruits, orange and some apricots, with a certain bitterness-dryness.
Impression: Drawn from the cask at full strength, this whisky had matured at least for 38 years in the cask. The woodiness starts to show up. Nevertheless, this blend is excellent, intense, with all constituents well married together to deliver a harmonious product.If all the blends were of this quality, I would have more blends on my shelves. The best Scotch blend I have ever tasted.
Rating:

17 Sep

Caperdonich Lonach 1968, 37 YO, Duncan Taylor, 40.3%, B:2006. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Grassy (grass cut a few days ago), notes of geraniums, a zest of mint and some wood influence. A bit one-dimensional. Diluted, the nose gets stronger, but with notes of cardboard.
Taste: Vanilla, quite woody, a light touch of smoke and then some more? smoke. Fades quite quickly on the palate. Diluted, it gets smokier and dryier. The finish is quite short, on dry tobacco notes and toffee.
Impression: A whisky showing its age and where the cask is showing its influence. The price was then £54 a bottle.
Rating: 08/20

16 Sep

Carsebrige 1979, 26 YO, Duncan Taylor, 60.3%, B: 2005, Price:
Colour: Gold- old gold
Nose: Beautiful and smooth apricots and peach flavours, very sweet (corn and maple sirup) and smooth. Some oakiness and vanilla sweetness.
Taste: Very smooth and buttery, with very strong apricots flavours. Sweet corn and vanilla. The finish is long, on apricots, toffee, vanilla and corn.
General Impression: A surprising single grain whisky, clean, with a lot of sweetness. Not as complex as a single malt and heavier, but definitely worth trying.
Rating: 14/20

15 Sep

Lagavulin 1997 Jazz Festival 2012, OB, 54.5%. B: 2012. Price:
Colour : Gold-old gold
Nose: Round, smoky, peaty, a faint touch of rubber, some seaweeds and round sherry notes. Given time it becomes more tarry and on dark chocolate.
Taste: Smooth, rich, complex, and salty, on tangerine, peat smoke, some seashore, light notes of leather and chocolate. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, rich, complex, smooth, smoky, peaty, with some tarry notes, sea spray, iodine and seaweeds, as well as some tangerine and a touch of game.
Impression: A lovely whisky, complex and well balanced, with a pleasant combination of peat smoke and a moderate but well integrated sherry influence.
Rating: 17/20 FP:F7

14 Sep

Lagavulin 1995 Feis Ile 2013, OB, 51.0%, B: 2013, casks 1211 and 2916, 3000 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smoky, oaky, slightly yeasty, peaty, tarry, with some rubber and chocolate. Slightly oakier and rounder than the Jazz 2012 bottling.
Taste: Smooth, sweet, smoky, on vanilla, salt, faint yeasty and leathery notes, a touch of tangerine and plums, some iodine and sea spray. The finish is medium, oaky, smooth, slightly sweet and tarry, smoky, with some peat, a touch of tangerine and game, some other light juicy flavours and some seaspray. Elegant.
Impression: A slightly drier version than the Jazz 2012, slightly less intense as well, but sharing a similar complexity and balance. A most pleasant whisky and for the first time, the Feils Ile bottling is not anymore a single cask bottling.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F7

13 Sep

Lagavulin 1998 Feis Ile 2012, OB, 55.1%. B: 2012, cask 1716. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, intense, very smoky, on vanilla, lots of seaweeds, seashells, peat, iodine, cigars and wet wood. It reminds me somewhat of Lagavulin 12 YO cask strength.
Taste: Intense, oaky, smoky, peaty, on gentian, tar, iodine, TCP, salt, seaweeds and on vanilla. The finish is long, intense, smoky to very smoky, with some cigar smoke, vanilla, tar, iodine, a twist of lemon and on seaweeds.
Impression: Not easy to guess it came from a refill sherry butt, with pronounced oaky notes and a good dose of vanilla. Rather close to the 12 YO cask strength in style, with a “modern” flavour profile. At full strength, it anesthetise the taste buds efficiently.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C7

Karuizawa Brilliant Sherry 2000 for Isetan, 12 YO, OB, 60.2%, B: 2013, cask 199. Price :
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Intense, sharp, smooth, oaky, floral, fragrant, with some yellow fruits and some smoke. Diluted, it becomes nicely fruity.
Taste: Oaky, spicy, floral, fragrant, on ginger, vanilla, some light rubbery notes, yellow fruits (Mirabelle) and some smoke. The finish is medium to long, floral, oaky, with lots of yellow fruits (Mirabelle) and on ginger.
Impression: A rather fresh, intense and oaky Karuizawa, with pleasant notes of yellow fruits, mainly mirabelle. Considering the flavour profile of this Karuizawa, I am wondering why it is named “brilliant” sherry. The result is a good whisky, but different from the oldest expressions.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C2

10 Sep

Aberlour 8 YO “squat bottle”, OB, 50%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Sweet, floral, slightly smoky and metallic, on heather, some honey. Rather light and fresh.
Taste: Light, spicy to very spicy, slightly soapy, on heather, honey and some light notes of tangerine and wax. The finish is medium, light, fragrant, slightly bitter, rather smoky and dry, on tobacco leaves, heather, some wax and raisins.
Impression: A good fresh and light Aberlour, with less oaky notes that the current production. It is also smokier.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Ben Nevis 1966, 25 YO, OB, 54%. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose; Slightly humic and woody, with deep and intense sherry flavours. Velvety. A big old fashioned sherried whisky!
Taste: Very smooth, rich, intense, on tangerine, orange, old smoke and cereals. Very complex. The finish is long, on the same flavours, with some wood and tannins.
Impression: A big powerful and intense complex Ben Nevis, with quite some wood in the finish. If you like the old of sherried whiskies, you will love this one.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H3

05 Sep

Ben Nevis 1971 Old Malt Cask 1st fill bourbon, 36 YO, Douglas Laing, 42.5%, B: 2007, ref #3616, 212 bottles, Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very grassy, earthy, slightly floral, on porridge and corn. Diluted, it gets more on porridge and cereals. Reminds me of an old grain whisky.
Taste: Salty, malty, slightly spirity, very grassy, on porridge, corn, peach, coconut and melon. Diluted, it becomes creamier and more floral. The finish is short to medium, malty, grassy and earthy. Diluted, it becomes bland.
Impression: It gives the impression of being blended with some grain whisky. Almost chewy. Do not add any water.
Rating: 14/20

Ben Nevis Old Malt Cask 1966, 34 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2001, 186 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Is it really a single malt or one of these Ben Nevis blends? Starts with very smooth and sweet corn flavours, peach and ripe fruity flavours, before some fragrant flowery notes and cream-fudge are perceived.
Taste: Spicy, peppery, some bitter toffee, very oily, on sweet malt and corn, apricots, peach, with some soft peat smoke and floral aromas. After some time, some grassy and cardboard notes are detected. The finish is of medium length, winey, on corn, smoke and ripe apricots. Very oily.
Impression: In the 1970s , Ben Nevis was filling some casks with a mixture of malt and grain new make and I would not be surprised if this bottle does not contain the product of such early experiment, since the grain-like flavours are very strongly present. In any case, the result is very convincing.
Rating: 16/20

Caol Ila 1983 refill sherry, 27 YO, The Whisky Chamber. 51.4%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: On delicate peat smoke, smooth, very elegant, with some oysters and seashells, as well as traces of char.
Taste: Peaty, tarry, on charcoal, rather thick, slightly chewy, on seaweeds, charcoal, pineapples, tangerine, orange, strawberries and bold smoke. Rather fruity. The finish is medium, mineral, tarry, peaty, with some sweet and fruity sherry notes.
Impression: The peat is rather well contained by the sweet sherry notes resulting in a smooth, but very enjoyable and drinkable Caol Ila. Just do not expect a peat blast.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E6

29 Aug

Breath of Islay (Caol Ila) 1999, 11 YO, Adelphi, 56.6%, B : 2010, cask 5582, 286 bottles. Price :
Colour : Straw.
Nose : Very peaty, dry, clean and on seaweeds.
Taste : Very smoky, on bonfire smokes, lots of iodine and TCP, as well as on gun powder. Rather sweet for a Caol Ila. The finish is medium, slightly peppery, peaty, on seaweeds and lots of smoke. Diluted, it becomes more peppery.
Impression: A very nice and clean Caol Ila. Probably the smokiest Caol Ila I have tasted so far.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A7

28 Aug

Caol Ila 1972, Jas Gordon & Co, 40%, B: 1987. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Sweet, light, fresh, fruity, mineral, quite malty, with some slight farmy notes and ripe pink grapefruit. Not much peat.
Taste: Very sweet, fruity, malty, sugary, on starch, herb infusion with honey. The finish is medium, sweet, fruity and on honey.
Impression: Where is the peat gone? Did they run out of peat shortly before rebuidling the distillery? A very sweet and atypical Caol Ila, on honey candies.
Rating: 12/20 FP:D2

Clynelish 1997, 15 YO, The Maltman, 46%, B:2013, cask 6899. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fresh, waxy, slightly mineral, with some vanilla and slight smoky notes and some citric notes. Diluted, it is more on lemon.
Taste: Waxy, round, slightly floral, with lots of lemons, on vanilla, some melon and quince, with nice sweet mustardy notes and a touch of smoke. The finish is long, fresh, round, bold, waxy, on lemon and quince, as well as some smoke.
Impression: A very nice rich and rather intense and bold Clynelish. Very enjoyable. A good value whisky.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A2

19 Aug

Clynelish 12 YO For Edward and Edwar white label, OB, 56.9%, B: early1970s. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Waxy, round, slightly mineral and peaty, with some fresh flavours and a touch of honey.
Taste: Intense, waxy to very waxy, on mustard, melon, some lime, smoke and gentian. The finish is medium, very waxy, citric, bitter, austere, slightly mineral, with some melon, gentian and light notes of camphor and eucalyptus.
Impression: A very waxy expression of Clynelish distilled at the old Brora distillery, rather austere and on gentian. A rather difficult Clynelish.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A2

Clynelish 12 YO For Edward and Edward Bicolour label, OB, 56.9%, B: 1973. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Fresh, waxy, clean, slightly mineral and smoky, with some Riesling-like flavours and a zest of citrus.
Taste: Clean, oaky, fresh, waxy, mineral, on flint stone, with some mustard seeds, melon, quince and some smoke. The finish is long, mineral, with some melon, quince and anise seeds, as well as some mustard seeds. Diluted, the finish is more on Rieslings.
Impression: A very nice clean, waxy, subtle and mineral old Clynelish (Brora) with some coastal influence.
Tasting: 17/20 FP:A2

Bunnahabhain 1973, 40YO, Acla Selection, 46.2%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, mellow, on sea spray, some cigar smoke and a light fruitiness.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, slightly salty and thin, on yellow fruits, heather, some cigar smoke and some lime blossom. The finis is medium, very mellow, on yellow fruits, honey, some sea spray, salt and cigar smoke.
Impression: A round and mellow Bunna, probably one of the very last cask of Bunna from the early 1970s left. Although it retained a high strength, the flavours were rather light, probably due to its age. A very reasonably priced whisky (about 190 euros) for a 40 YO whisky. Of note, Acla-da-fans is a Swiss retailer.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A1

15 Aug

Laphroaig 1998,
Wilson&Morgan, 50%, B:2012.
Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Floral, malty, slightly rubbery, and with some heather
Taste: Dry, clean, peaty, farmy with some rubber and heather. Diluted, it becomes drier and farmy. The finish is medium to long, dry to very dry, peaty, tarry, ashy and rather rough.
Impression: A clean peat monster with very dry peaty notes. A whisky without much compromise.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A9

14 Aug

Laphroaig 1969 For Intertrade, 15 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 55.3%, B: 1985. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fishy, very maritime, on bold peat smoke, freshly cooked salmon, seaweeds, sea brine. The whole is rather clean with very strong sea water-salmon flavours.
Taste: Clean, peaty, very salty-fishy and maritime, on fresh salmon, bold peat smoke and seaweeds. Muscular. The finish is long, peaty, very salty, slightly citric and bitter, on iodine and salmon, with a touch of tobacco leaves.
Impression: A very muscular Laphroaig giving the impression of tasting sea water and salmon cooked over a peat fire. A rather difficult (extreme) whisky. Thank you very much Daniel.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C8

Laphroaig 10 YO For Filippi Fausto, OB, 43%, B:1960s. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Intense, smooth, peaty, deliciously fruity, with lots of pink grapefruit and on tropical fruits. The maritime flavours are partially tamed by the rich fruity notes.
Taste: Smoky to very smoky, salty, peaty, smooth, on pink grapefruit, some tropical fruits, on liquorice roots, seaweeds and other maritime and medicinal notes. The finish is long, dry, on liquorice roots, wood smoke, peat, some iodine, camphor and diverse medicinal notes.
Impression: A dry, complex, intense and salty Laphroaig, with strong notes of smoke and grapefruits. The nose was excellent and smooth, while it was dryer on the palate. An old fashioned Laphroaig, slightly austere and maybe not that easy.
Rating: 15/20 FP:F5

07 Aug

Laphroaig 10 YO, OB, 70 Proof, 26 2/3 Fl OZ, B: 1960s. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Peaty, smooth, strongly maritime, on iodine, lots of seaweeds, camphor, some pineapple and light slightly tropical fruity flavours.
Taste: Thin, peaty to very peaty, smoky, on iodine, some seaweeds, smoke, old wood smoke and light notes of grapefruit. The finish is medium, thin, slightly woody, smoky, slightly medicinal, with old wood and peat smoke. With a long smoky and peaty retro-olfaction.
Impression: The nose was excellent, smooth, peaty and complex, unfortunately rather on the thin side on the palate, probably due to a combination of low strength (40% abv) and long aging in the bottle. A couple of extra abv would have been welcomed.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E5

Springbank 1968, Dun Bheagan, 51.4%, c. 1415, 432 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Slightly humic, on orange, fig, almonds, leather, tannins, some sea salt, with some smokiness. Needs some time to open.
Taste: Smooth, salty to very salty, smoky, peaty, very maritime, with some diesel smoke, seaweeds, orange and tangerine. Rich and intense. The finish is medium to long, dry, bitter, long, smoky, on tannins, wood, spices and oranges.
Impression: A nice Springbank, very salty and maritime, with the peat quite present. The finish is rather dry and bitter when undiluted.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D6

04 Aug

Springbank Valentino Zagatti Personal choice, 17 YO, High Spirit, 46%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Light gold-gold.
Nose: Very farmy, strong wild mushrooms flavours, salty, slighty maritime. Special.
Taste: Salty, maritime, with some strong mushrooms. Finish is long and on mushrooms.
Impression: I hope that there was a problem with that bottle, since it tasted like a “mushroom” matured whisky. Barely drinkable in that condition.
Rating: N/A

Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, malty, sweet, on grapes, some Port and saltiness.
Taste: Spicy, salty, smoky, sweet, on grapes, some Port and strawberries, as well as some cardboard. With times, it becomes sugary and more maritime.
Impression: A rather sweet and sugary whisky, with probably the influence of Port and/or Rum casks.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D3

Springbank 1996 Port Cask NC2, Duncan Taylor, 46%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, creamy, with a well present sweetness from the Port, as well as some Kintyre maritime aromas.
Taste: Salty, sweet, spicy, on grapes, salt and light floral and balsamic notes. Rather unbalanced. Diluted, it becomes spicier (cumin, genever) and saltier. The finis is medium, slightly winey, maritime, smoky and sweet.
Impression: A difficult whisky with the Port struggling against the Springbank character and thus contributing to a rather original combination of flavours.
Raring: 09/20 FP:C3

Limerick Slaney Irish Single Malt 1988, 24 YO, Adelphi, 56.8%, B: 2012, cask 10516, 180 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very smooth, rich, on apricots, fragrant oranges, orange blossom, tangerine, sweet crushed barley, passion fruits some berries and other fruity notes.
The nose was excellent, somewhat reminding me of the BenRiachs.
Taste: Very smooth, malty, slightly waxy, mellow, on marzipan, almonds, tropical fruits, tangerine, orange, some vanilla and a slight smokiness. The finish is long, waxy, malty, on vanilla, slightly oaky and fruity, with slight aromatic flavours.
Impression: I got a sample from a unknown whisky enthusiast at Limburg (thank you!) and I was struggling defining the distillery. My thought went for BenRiach, which was the closest from this style, and I was surprised to learn that it came from the Irish distillery of Cooley. The quality of the spirit is excellent and the result is a most pleasant smooth whiskey with very enjoyable fruity notes. Not cheap, but well worth drinking.
Rating: 17/20 FP: C1

01 Aug

Littlemill 1989, Thoshop, 55.4%, B: 2011,
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth, rich, on dried fruits, leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, spices, redcurrant and some grassy notes. Very pleasant and round.
Taste: Fresh, rather light, slightly zesty and floral, with some soft spices, vanilla, leather and some light tannins. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, sweet, malty, floral, fresh, on spices, some leather as well as some dried fruits, fudge, and orange.
Impression: A very nice Littlemill with rich, spicy and round sherry notes and a nice interplay with lighter floral and slightly grassy notes. One of the nicest Littlemill released the last 2 years.
Rating: 16/20 FP: G1

Littlemill 1989, Silver Seal and The Whisky Agency, 49.8%, B: 2011
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Oaky, slightly grassy and meaty, grassy, herbal and with some vanilla and toffee.
Taste: Very smooth, fresh, grassy, floral, intense, with some sweet fruity notes. The finish is medium, grassy to very grassy, intense, floral, fragrant, smooth and mellow, with some light sweet fruity notes.
Impression: A very nice subtle and smooth Littlemil, with a mild influence of the sherry.
Rating: 15/20 FP:E1

Littlemill 1992 Spanish Brandy Barrel finish, Alambic Classique, 53.6%, B:2013, cask 13307
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, sweet, slightly winey and herbal, rather dry and with some vanilla.
Taste: Light, fresh to very fresh, oaky, slightly winey and grassy, floral, fragrant, intense, on vanilla and oak spices. The finish is medium, dry, astringent, oaky to very oaky, malty and floral. With some water, the winey becomes rather unpleasant.
Impression: The flavour profile suggest that the transfer of the flavours from the cask to the spirit was limited, while the brandy finish is adding winey notes, with a questionable added value. Not much to my liking.
Rating: 09/20 FP:D1